Gender Analysis

Why?

Gender equality is based on the premise that women and men should be treated in the same way. This fails to some degree to recognise that equal treatment will not produce equitable results, because women and men have different life experiences.

Gender analysis is an essential element of socio-economic analysis. A comprehensive socio-economic analysis that takes into account gender relations, as gender is a factor in all social and economic relations. WRC’s analysis of gender relations provides information on the different conditions women and men face, and the different effects that policies and programmes may have on them because of their situations. We use such information to inform and improve policies and evidence-based research, and is essential in ensuring that the different needs of women are met.

For example: Many of women's contributions to the economy continue to go unrecognized because their work is not easily counted within the conventional structures. Women do a majority of the work within the informal sector and the home and as a result, much of their work is not counted or is underrepresented in official statistics. The lack of a gender analysis in economic policies can result in women's perspectives and priorities being left out of strategies for development.

By examining basic assumptions, the interrelationships between social context and economic factors can be understood and initiatives that respond to those needs can be designed.

What?

For you a gender analysis will help address the connections of gender with factors such as race, ethnicity, culture, class, age, disability, and/or other status, among others, that is required for all policies, programmes and projects. Analysing gender relations can tell who has access, who has control, who is likely to benefit from a new initiative, and who is likely to lose.

We will seek to ask questions that can lead you in a search for information to understand why a situation has developed the way it has. It can also lead you to explore assumptions about issues such as the distribution of resources and the impact of beliefs and traditions. A gendered analysis can provide information on the potential direct or indirect benefit of an initiative on women and men, on some appropriate entry points for measures that promote equality within a particular context, for example, how a particular initiative may challenge or maintain the existing gender division of labour. With this information measures of equity can be created to address the disparities and promote equality.

Outcomes:

Provide a female gender perspective focusing on the reasons for the current division of responsibilities and benefits and their effect on the distribution of rewards and motivations.

Support you can deconstruct equity to consider the differences in women’s and men’s lives and recognises the different approaches needed to produce outcomes that are equitable.

Use a gender analysis approach that takes place throughout the entire development process, throughout research, to problem definition, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

For more information please contact us on Telephone: 0207 697 3450 or Email: consultancy@wrc.org.uk.